On Tuesday, A U.S. missile cruiser entered the waters of the disputed Spratly Islands, which China considers as its own territory, without Beijing’s permission, Chinese army spokesman Tian Junli said.
This could be another evidence of Washington’s intention to militarise the South China Sea.
The embattled Spratly Islands are also known as the Nansha Islands.
Tian, who serves in the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command, said in a statement posted on the WeChat social network that the Chinese navy swiftly took the US cruiser out of the waters and warned it to leave the area.
The spokesman went on to say that the US military’s actions significantly infringed China’s sovereignty and security, and served as proof of the US aim to monopolize shipping in the region.
The event, according to Tian, also illustrates that Washington is a major source of security challenges in the South China Sea.
He highlighted that Beijing had indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and neighboring waterways, and that the Chinese military is on high alert at all times to maintain regional peace and stability.
Beijing has a long dispute with many Asia-Pacific countries over sovereignty of several hydrocarbon-rich islands in the South China Sea.
The territories include the Xisha archipelago, the Spratly Islands, and the island of Huangyan, also known as the Scarborough Shoal.
Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines have also been claiming ownership of the territories.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague concluded in July 2016, following a complaint filed by the Philippines, that China had no grounds for territorial claims in the South China Sea.
According to the court, the conflicting Spratly archipelago entities are not islands and do not create an exclusive economic zone.
Beijing, for its part, stated that it did not consider the court’s ruling to be legal and did not recognize it.
The transit of US warships through the sea zone frequently complicates the situation, according to Beijing, violating international law and undermining China’s sovereignty and security.
Despite Beijing’s protests, Washington has stated that US forces will continue to operate wherever international law allows, including in the South China Sea. (Sputnik/NAN)
